survey

Planeta.com Presents Initial Results 2007 Best of Oaxaca Survey

OAXACA, OAXACA - From piedrazos to tlayudas, the Best of Oaxaca Survey addresses what makes this Mexican city special to so many people.

The bilingual survey offers travelers and locals an opportunity to evaluate attractions of Oaxaca, including the city's famous markets, art galleries, bookstores and restaurants.

"Talking to locals and visitors, it's easy to see that the social protests of 2006 transformed the city landscape. Businesses have changed, some have closed, some have opened," said Planeta.com webhost Ron Mader who created the survey as a means to update information.

Reality tourism is on the upswing and is meeting responsible travel head on.

The survey asks about traditional foods, places to visit and cultural heritage features including city parks and historic trees.

Says Ron Mader, "'Best of' tends to be an overworked phrase -- 'lo mejor' prefaces up to a third of Oaxaca City businesses. That said, most usage is by business owners themselves. This survey provides an opportunity to engage locals and visitors by seeking out their favorites. We look forward to sharing the names of the winners in November."

Initial response to the survey has been encouraging. Within the first two days of the launch, more than two dozen people responded, one writing, "Taking this survey makes me realize how much I haven't done in Oaxaca yet. I need to go back!"

Preliminary results are online.

Favorite place for live music? Lugar favorito para musica en vivo?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Candela		6.1%	2
Teatro Malcedonio Alcala		15.2%	5
Zocalo		63.6%	21
Central		9.1%	3
Elefante		6.1%	2
			Other (please specify)				9
	answered question		33
	skipped question		9

4. Favorite art gallery? Mejor galeria de arte favorita?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Arte de Oaxaca		30.0%	9
El MACO		46.7%	14
Museo de los Pintores		23.3%	7
			Other (please specify)				5
	answered question		30
	skipped question		12

5. Favorite restaurant? Restaurante favorito?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Bar Jardin, Zocalo		5.3%	1
Los Danzantes		10.5%	2
Asador Vazco		26.3%	5
La Biznaga		42.1%	8
Comala		15.8%	3
			Other (please specify)				23
	answered question		19
	skipped question		23

6. Favorite market? ¿Mercado favorito?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Pochote		42.9%	15
20 de Noviembre		20.0%	7
Juarez		14.3%	5
La Merced		20.0%	7
Sanchez Pascuas		2.9%	1
			Other (please specify)				8
	answered question		35
	skipped question		7

7. Favorite place for sherbet and ice cream? Lugar favorito para nieves?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Socrates Garden (next to La Soledad Church)		67.7%	21
Michoacana		19.4%	6
La Merced Market		0.0%	0
Gelato on valdivieso		6.5%	2
Pochote Market		6.5%	2
			Other (please specify)				7
	answered question		31
	skipped question		11

8. Favorite place for popcicles? Lugar favorito para paletas?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Popeye		64.3%	18
Michoacana		35.7%	10
			Other (please specify)				3
	answered question		28
	skipped question		14

9. Favorite place to buy grasshoppers? ¿Lugar favorito para comprar chapulines?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Benito Juarez/20 de Noviembre Market		70.0%	21
Central de Abastos		13.3%	4
Xiguela		3.3%	1
Zocalo		13.3%	4
			Other (please specify)				5
	answered question		30
	skipped question		12

10. Favorite place to buy Oaxaca cheese? Lugar favorito para comprar queso Oaxaqueño?
		Response Percent	Response Count
La Merced Market		17.2%	5
Benito Juarez Market		51.7%	15
Pochote Market		17.2%	5
Sanchez Pascuas Market		13.8%	4
			Other (please specify)				11
	answered question		29
	skipped question		13

11. Favorite place to eat a tlayuda, memela or empenada? Lugar favorito para comer una tlayuda, memela o empanada?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Next to Carmen Alto Church (nights)		22.2%	6
Libres Street (nights)		59.3%	16
North side of Santo Augustino Temple		11.1%	3
Sanchez Pascuas Market		7.4%	2
			Other (please specify)				9
	answered question		27
	skipped question		15

12. Favorite place to eat tacos? Lugar favorito para comer tacos?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Itanoni		46.2%	6
Los Sombrerudos, Colonia Reforma		30.8%	4
Tacos Alvaro		23.1%	3
			Other (please specify)				19
	answered question		13
	skipped question		29

13. Favorite place to buy tamales? Lugar favorito para comprar tamales?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Tamales Cande, Sanchez Pascuas Market		15.4%	4
Pochote Market		23.1%	6
Across from Parque Labastida (nights)		19.2%	5
Conzatti Park, north side (mornings)		42.3%	11
			Other (please specify)				10
	answered question		26
	skipped question		16

14. Favorite place for a hot chocolate? Lugar favorito para tomar un chocolate caliente?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Cafe los Cuiles		7.7%	2
Mayordomo Chocolate Store		57.7%	15
Sanchez Pascuas Market		11.5%	3
Zandunga Restaurant		23.1%	6
			Other (please specify)				10
	answered question		26
	skipped question		16

15. Favorite place for a jello or nicuatole? Lugar favorito para compar geletin o nicuatole?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Itanoni		17.7%	3
Pochote Market		47.1%	8
Sanchez Pascuas Market		35.3%	6
			Other (please specify)				6
	answered question		17
	skipped question		25

16. Favorite place for a fruit drink or tejate? Lugar favorito para tomar un agua o tejate?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Pochote Market		37.0%	10
Juarez Market		63.0%	17
			Other (please specify)				8
	answered question		27
	skipped question		15

17. Favorite mezcal brand? Marca de mezcal favorito?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Alipus		7.1%	1
De la Vega		42.9%	6
Joyas Oaxaqueñas		14.3%	2
Real Minero		35.7%	5
			Other (please specify)		view comment		20
	answered question		14
	skipped question		28

18. Favorite place for a mezcal? Lugar favorito para tomar un mezcal?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Bar Jardin on the Zocalo		27.8%	5
Farola		16.7%	3
Casa de Mezcal		55.6%	10
			Other (please specify)		view comment		14
	answered question		18
	skipped question		24

19. Favorite cantina?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Bar Jardin		40.0%	10
La Divina		16.0%	4
Tomas Inn		12.0%	3
Casa de Mezcal		16.0%	4
La Farola		16.0%	4
			Other (please specify)		view comment		6
	answered question		25
	skipped question		17

20. Favorite place to buy a piedrazo? Lugar favorito para compar un piedrazo?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Outside the Trinidad de las Huertas Church		44.4%	8
La Posita		0.0%	0
Mercado Benito Juarez		55.6%	10
			Other (please specify)		view comment		5
	answered question		18
	skipped question		24

21. Favorite newspaper? Diario favorito?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Noticias		75.8%	25
Imparcial		24.2%	8
			Other (please specify)		view comment		3
	answered question		33
	skipped question		9

22. Favorite bookstore? ¿Libreria favorita?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Amate		53.6%	15
Porrua		46.4%	13
			Other (please specify)		view comment		6
	answered question		28
	skipped question		14

23. Favorite city park? Parque urbano favorito?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Zocalo		47.4%	18
El Llano		52.6%	20
			Other (please specify)		view comment		6
	answered question		38
	skipped question		4

24. Favorite place to rent a bicycle? Lugar favorito a rentar una bicicleta?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Bicicletas Pedro Martinez		73.3%	11
Zona Bici		26.7%	4
			Other (please specify)		view comment		3
	answered question		15
	skipped question		27

25. Favorite notable or historic tree? ¿Árbol notable o histórico favorito?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Tule		57.9%	22
Zocalo Laurels		23.7%	9
El Fortin Stairway Trees		13.2%	5
Los coquitos (Pseudobombax) in front of the Jalatlaco Church		5.3%	2
			Other (please specify)

VOTING

Voting takes place from September-November 2007. Who can vote? Those with first-hand experience of Oaxaca. We ask that respondents vote only once. Winners will be announced in December.

NOMINATIONS

Nominations were open in July and August, announced via the Oaxaca Guide on Planeta.com and the Oaxaca Options mailing list.

PREVIOUS SURVEY

In the 2005-2006 survey readers ranked the Zocalo as a great place for live music, Noticias for a daily newspaper and Casa de Mezcal as the city's best cantina.

YOUR TURN

Take the Survey/Contesta la encuesta

REFERENCE

Preliminary results